Retro sound radio advice

[frenchy51]

I just tried to install a Retro Sound radio in my '72 C10. Install was straight forward-put 2 4 1/2" speakers in the dash and 2 6 1/2's in the doors. Wired it up and it sounded great until I fired up the engine. It would cut out kind of like a skip. Called Retro and they said it was RF interference and to cover the radio with tin foil. Did that and didn't help so pulled out radio and set it on the seat with jumper wires to get it farther from the distributor and it still didn't work well. Called Retro again and they're sending a "relocation" kit (no charge) to mount the receiver (?) under the seat-they said it would cure the RF interference but I'm skeptical- Any body else had this problem? I'm thinking the radio is defective, but Retro says no.....

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by frenchy51

I just tried to install a Retro Sound radio in my '72 C10. Install was straight forward-put 2 4 1/2" speakers in the dash and 2 6 1/2's in the doors. Wired it up and it sounded great until I fired up the engine. It would cut out kind of like a skip. Called Retro and they said it was RF interference and to cover the radio with tin foil. Did that and didn't help so pulled out radio and set it on the seat with jumper wires to get it farther from the distributor and it still didn't work well. Called Retro again and they're sending a "relocation" kit (no charge) to mount the receiver (?) under the seat-they said it would cure the RF interference but I'm skeptical- Any body else had this problem? I'm thinking the radio is defective, but Retro says no.....

I highly doubt that it has anything to do with the position. I'd be more willing to bet that it is power or ground related. Does it do it at any volume level, or only when turned up loud? try checking the power going in to it before and then again after you start the truck. Also, double check all the speakers are connected properly. Try it with just two speakers connected, especially if you have a couple of spares that you can hook up that are not the ones already mounted, that might check for a short in a speaker wire some where.

[Davidf]

About 18 months ago, I installed a top of the line Retro Sound head unit (along with self powered sub-woofer) in my restored '52 Advanced Design truck. Works great with no issues as you describe. Distributor is father from firewall on I6 engines. My only problem with the Retro Sound head unit is it is way to complicated to operate when only used on an occasional basis.

Good luck in solving your problem.

[57larry]

foil on the radio? that's funny

[frenchy51]

If I rev the engine to about 1400 rpm or higher it sounds fine. I have an HEI dist. don't know if that matters? I think all connections, speakers etc are fine....

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by frenchy51

If I rev the engine to about 1400 rpm or higher it sounds fine. I have an HEI dist. don't know if that matters? I think all connections, speakers etc are fine....

Check your voltage with a meter. While truck is off, while idling, at 1,500 rpm

Check it right at the radio as best you can.

Also go over all of your grounds one more time. It sounds like a low voltage situation to me, could be a short (or a million other things) though also. I wouldn't mess with the tin foil. If anything you might end up overheating it.

[cleszkie]

I run a power filter on the power source to my MSD ignition box to screen out any RF interference and voltage spikes. I installed it as close to the ignition box as possible, per the directions. Perhaps you need to install a power filter on the power source for the radio?

[El Dorado Jim]

Both my sons have retro sound radios in their trucks,One is a 70 GMC the other a 73 chevy pickup, both have HEI ignitions and haven't had any problems with anything...sounds like you have a defective radio

[MARKDTN]

Where did you get your ground from? I would run a separate ground all the way from the battery. Sounds like overkill, but it works sometimes.

[Z10]

I'm running a Model 2 in my 72 with no issues.

[jrayegg]

I had the same issue and it went away on its own. I have no idea why or how. They also told me interference when I inquired. However mine locks up from time to time. I wish there was a reset.

[flipper58]

Frenchy, any update? I just installed Retro Sound model 2 and it worked like a charm--until this past weekend. All of a sudden nasty interference on BlueTooth and radio. I have HEI distributor, too. I suspect it might be a ground issue, but haven't had a chance to check it out.

[frenchy51]

No updates yet. Waiting on Retro to send the harness to remotely hook up the receiver away from interference (maybe under the seat???) I would rather have everything behind the dash so I've spent some time putting foil sound deadener on the firewall to see if that will cut the interference once I get the radio back in.
I still think the radio's defective but Retro says NO....
Stay tuned (-;

[old Chevy guy]

I have one in my truck not sure what model cause I found it at the salvage yard in a 67 belair. Works fine no interference and my truck has a regular gm hei in it . The one with the coil in the cap that came from " who remembers where".

[frenchy51]

I also have a "noise filter" coming so we'll see if that helps.....kind of frustrating-expensive radio......I contacted "Truck Shop" who I bought it from for an exchange and they said any exchanges have to go directly through Retro Sound-kind of a Catch 22.

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by flipper58

Frenchy, any update? I just installed Retro Sound model 2 and it worked like a charm--until this past weekend. All of a sudden nasty interference on BlueTooth and radio. I have HEI distributor, too. I suspect it might be a ground issue, but haven't had a chance to check it out.

I'm having a pro shop install it and they said they checked all grounds etc and all is as it should be wiring-wise.

[flipper58]

OK, weirdness continues. When I went to work on the truck two nights ago, I turned on the radio to jiggle some wires hoping to find a loose lead or ground. It worked fine with no interference. Go figure. But, I will likely get back to it again this weekend because I am not counting on this problem disappearing forever.

[67 chevelle]

I have a retro sound stereo in my 59 ,its flawless , stock 235 6 cylinder , stock wiring , points distributor ,, love it ,,, custom autosound on the other hand has been the opposite for me , nothing but trouble

[wbc409]

The main sources of rf interference are your plug wires, HEI, and alternator. Yes the tin foil will help block the rf interference you are getting in the radio. Any thing that has electrical energy running through it generates an electro magnetic field. The higher the voltage and current the stronger the field. If you have tied up any extra wire into a loop or coil this makes the field stronger. You should tie up any extra wire, including your antenna coax cable in a way that doesn't create a coil. If you run your radio power and ground wires back to the battery, the battery acts like a filter and you should get cleaner power that way. Make sure you have good grounds.

[flipper58]

Originally Posted by flipper58

OK, weirdness continues. When I went to work on the truck two nights ago, I turned on the radio to jiggle some wires hoping to find a loose lead or ground. It worked fine with no interference. Go figure. But, I will likely get back to it again this weekend because I am not counting on this problem disappearing forever.

I finally had a chance to get back to the radio issue. I spent enough time to confirm it was operator/installer error. In a nutshell, my bad. I popped out the glovebox to access my installation wiring. I again confirmed all connections were fine. I also discovered, by paying more attention this time, that the wires for rear speakers, which i am not currently using and which come with a partial cut for ease of connection when wiring, were exposed--and occasionally touching. Geez. I snipped them with a clean cut and taped them off. "Problem" solved. Radio is fine. Installer? Not so much.